Zibeline — Complete eBook

ZIBELINE

By PHILIPPE DE MASSA

BOOK 3.

CHAPTER XX

ZIBELINE RECEIVES

The Duchesse de Montgeron had no children, and her
most tender affections were concentrated upon her
husband and her brother. The scruples which caused
the latter to forswear matrimony grieved her deeply,
for, knowing the inflexibility of his character, she
was sure that no one in the world could make him alter
his decision.

Thus, on one side the title of the Duc de Montgeron
was destined to pass to a collateral branch of the
family; and on the other, the title of Marquis de
Prerolles would become extinct with the General.

But, although she now considered it impossible to
realize the project which she had momentarily cherished,
she continued to show the same kindness to Mademoiselle
de Vermont. She would have regarded any other
course as unworthy of her, since she had made the first
advances; moreover, the young girl’s nature
was so engaging that no one who approached her could
resist her charm.

Very reserved or absolutely frank, according to the
degree of confidence with which she was treated, Valentine
had sufficient intuition to avoid a lack of tact.

She was, in feminine guise, like ‘L’Ingenu’
of Voltaire, struck, as was Huron, with all that was
illogical in our social code; but she did not make,
after his fashion, a too literal application of its
rules, and knew where to draw the line, if she found
herself on the point of making some hazardous remark,
declaring frankly: “I was about to say something
foolish!” which lent originality to her playful
conversation.

After receiving from Valentine’s hands the contract
signed in presence of the notary, for the benefit
of the Orphan Asylum, the president of the society
did not fail to give a dinner in honor of the new patroness.

As she was a foreigner she was placed in the seat
of honor at the table, to the great displeasure of
Madame Desvanneaux, who was invited to take the second
place, in spite of her title of vice-president.

“It is because of her millions that she was
placed before me,” she said in an undertone
to her husband, as soon as the guests had returned
to the drawing-room. And, giving orders that
her carriage should be summoned immediately, she left
the house without speaking to any one, and with the
air of a peeress of England outraged in her rights
of precedence!

This was, for the hostile pair, a new cause of grievance
against Zibeline. When she, in her turn, gave
at her home a similar dinner, a fortnight later, she
received from them, in reply to her invitation, which
was couched in the most courteous terms, a simple visiting
card, with the following refusal: “The
Comte and the Comtesse Desvanneaux, not being in the
habit of accepting invitations during Lent, feel constrained
to decline that of Mademoiselle de Vermont.”